"You arrive at the Divine Commission's gates but suddenly hesitate for no apparent reason..."
"Stelle: (Can't risk alerting them. I should confirm Kafka's location first...)"
Kafka's expression darkened slightly.
Among the quest's optional choices, only [Go to Kafka's location] remained.
Silver Wolf smirked. "See? What did I tell you?"
"There's no way this quest would let you fail right at the Start."
"This is still a game, after all!"
"If given the choice, some players would skip all the story just to grab the rewards."
Kafka nodded. "So, even though the game offers different choices and dialogue paths, the outcome remains fixed."
"If this is how games are designed... could reality also be one giant game?"
Silver Wolf grinned. "I like that analogy. But why so philosophical all of a sudden?"
"Well, since we just pulled off a big job, and with my character PV released, plus this companion quest... it's only natural to ponder deeper questions."
"Suit yourself. I'm off to grind for upgrades."
Silver Wolf spun her chair around, rolling into her designated no-disturbance gaming zone.
But before fully tuning out, she tossed one last remark over her shoulder:
"Personally, I think life's pretty good right now. I'm having fun, so I'll keep being a Stellaron Hunter."
"Like games—it's all about enjoyment. Just have fun, who cares about the rest?"
Kafka's lips curled into a faint smile as she turned back to the game screen.
After careful consideration, she chose to return to the Astral Express and consult March 7th and Welt first.
Both gave similar advice—they recommended meeting Kafka.
Guinaifen immediately teleported to the Divination Commission.
In a quiet alley, Kafka stood under a flickering lantern, her silhouette sharp against the dim light.
"I knew you'd come, Stelle."
Through the half-open window, Guinaifen spotted Blade inside, meditating with his eyes closed.
"Perfect! Mom and Uncle Blade are both here—the whole family's together!"
Approaching Kafka again, the dialogue continued:
"If you had eyes like Elio's, the world wouldn't look the same as it does now. Countless possibilities overlap, each representing the consequences of different choices. Yet, at every moment, infinite choices collapse into a single point—the present, the past..."
"Is this your choice? To accept my request and help me?"
[Of course, you need my help.]
[I haven't decided yet.]
[No, I'm here to refuse you.]
After a brief pause, Guinaifen picked the third option.
"Gotta tease Mom a little—can't just agree right away!"
Kafka responded with amusement: "Oh... really? You'd refuse me?"
"If you wanted to say no, why are you here?"
[You're right... I do want to help.]
[Because I came to say 'no' in person!]
[Because I have no choice...]
"Three more choices? Time to mess around again!" Guinaifen clicked the third option.
"Yes, we're all... [Slaves to Destiny]."
"Fate is invisible, intangible—yet as real as all the collapsed possibilities of past and present. I called, and you came. You had countless choices, yet all led you here... to this moment."
"You answered my call, knowing I need your help. So why hesitate?"
[I want to understand the situation...]
[I don't believe in fate.]
The second option was too harsh, so Guinaifen picked the third.
"Do you believe this universe is free?"
"Fine. Then keep that choice. Will you stay, Trailblazer? For me?"
Now, only two options remained:
[I'll stay and help you.]
Guinaifen agonized for nearly three minutes before taking a deep breath.
"Folks, I've been rebellious three times already..."
"If I refuse again, there might be no turning back."
"As Mom says, 'When you have the chance to choose, don't let yourself regret it.'"
"Let's not make Kafka sad~"
[I'll stay and help you.]
"Thank you. On this ship... you're the only one I can rely on."
Meanwhile, Kafka—on her end—chose [I won't stay.]
To her, this was more than just a game. Elio's script would have dictated this moment... but Honkai: Star Rail had changed everything. The old was obsolete.
"You know why I'm stopping you. If you leave, this story will vanish from your future—an unchangeable past, with no second chances."
"What are you clinging to? The 'right to choose'? Or just defiance? You still don't understand—even this defiance is bound by fate's limits."
"Elio said you'd help me. Who knows which possibility he foresaw...?"
One last time: [I won't stay.]
Then, an unexpected line—not from Kafka, but as if Yuling had scripted it through her:
"If you're thinking, 'What will Kafka say next?'—don't. Every choice has consequences, and we must bear them."
Kafka's eyes gleamed. This was the possibility she wanted to witness.
"Then... one final warning: I respect your choice, but it's irreversible. If you walk away, I'll save Blade and leave Xianzhou... alone."
"I don't know what future awaits—on this path, I'm as blind as you. Elio never shared a word of it."
"Long ago, he taught me: 'True free will doesn't exist. Choices are just selections from fixed possibilities.'"
"But if you believe you can choose... if this is truly your will, then perhaps I'd be happy. To rise above fate—maybe one day, you'll change everything."
The moment she stepped away:
"Very well. Goodbye."
A notification popped up:
[Letter from a Stranger – Completed]
[Achievement Unlocked: True Free Will]
Kafka's lips parted slightly.
The quest... had truly ended this way.
Though she'd missed much of the story, the achievement made her smile.
"Yu Ling... so this is the message you wanted to convey."
"At least now, we're no longer bound by fate's script."
"Or as people call it... hope."
Advance 100 Chapters are up on my !
pat reon.com/AlphaSenatus